Por vs Para "I work for..."

Question

I have been studying the difference between por and para for a little bit now, but one thing always gets me tripped up. When you are talking about working for a company or such, do you use por or para? I have seen this both ways and both examples are from reliable sites:

Mi hermano trabaja _por_ Microsoft. (this example is from the new por vs para page on this website)

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Mi hermano trabaja _para__ una farmacéutica (this is a test question from the National Spanish Exam, the test many kids take and then get ranked nationally)

So which is right? Can it be both??

Answer 1

I would have said; for Por instead of para Por sound better here (This is me developing an instinct for what sounds right)

The choice between prepositions has nothing to do with which one 'sounds better', but what meaning are you trying to convey. "Por" indicates the path, the journey, the reasons that pushed you through, while "para" indicates where all things and efforts end up, who gets them in the end...

"Trabajo para..." would mean that, in the end, your efforts and outcomes go towards someone or something (in this case, the company owner).

"Trabajo por..." would indicate why you are working, what motivates you, when are you doing it for, your journey.... (in this case, the reason why you work).

Mi hermano trabaja por Microsoft.

That means "My brother works around/through/because of... Microsoft".

Mi hermano trabaja _para__ una farmacéutica (this is a test question from the National Spanish Exam, the test many kids take and then get ranked nationally)

That means "My brother works so that, in the end, the pharmaceutical company benefits from the outcomes".

In English, the obvious translation of "trabaja por Microsoft" is "I work for Microsoft," that is to say Microsoft is my employer. "Around/through/because of" Microsoft are all a bit circuituous. Just my 2 cents! - Jeremias, Jun 16, 2011

Answer 2

Trabajo por Microsoft. I work as an agent of Microsoft. The work I do is to benefit Microsoft.

Trabajo para Microsoft. I am employed by Microsoft. I work so Microsoft will pay me.

This is a subtle but significant difference. I don't think you would ever say "Trabajo POR dinero." You don't work as an agent of (in behalf of) money.

Excellent answer - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 16, 2011

The thing is, you can't say trabajo para dinero. You can say trabajo para ganar dinero. Otherwise it would be por. - shakedowndave, Jun 16, 2011

you are right. Neither adverb makes sense with "Trabajo ____ dinero." "Trabajo para ganar" does make sense. - CalvoViejo, Jun 16, 2011

Trabajo por el dinero is OK. - 00e657d4, Jun 16, 2011

Nice answer. - GuitarWarrior, Jun 16, 2011

Answer 3

Can be both - but the para is for whom and the por is the reason. I agree it seems backwards, but I asked a native speaker.

Yo trabajo para Microsoft. Yo trabajo para ganar plata. Yo trabajo por dinero.

Answer 4

Trabajo por mi cuenta para ganar dinero.

Answer 5

I would have said; for Por instead of para Por sound better here (This is me developing an instinct for what sounds right) and por is used on behalf of as in on behalf of a company whereas para would be used to mean, amongst other things, in order to.

I am most surpised yet interested to know from shakedowndave that both can be used Dave, You say in your profile that you are fluent in Spanish and English yet you asked a natve about the use of por here ? Do you mean in your profile that you are fluent non-native like some others here? (I am not expecting fluent speakers to know everything about a language but just a little surprised that you needed to ask a native speaker about this)

Feliz, yes, I am non-native and I consider myself fluent. I studied extensively, have lived overseas for over 3 years, and conduct most of my daily work and business in Spanish. - shakedowndave, Jun 16, 2011

I agree with you about using "por". :D - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 16, 2011

However, I think por and para is a lifelong challenge for non-native speakers. I initially thought it should be por, as other and yourself have commented, but it didn't 'sound' right. So I asked, haha. - shakedowndave, Jun 16, 2011

I welcome being told I am wrong for the sake of everyone's learning! - shakedowndave, Jun 16, 2011

:) Thank you. - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 16, 2011

Yes dave ,you are right that it is a lifelong lesson :) (I hope you don't mind me calling you Dave?) - FELIZ77, Jun 16, 2011

Answer 6

One of the uses of "por" is corresponding with "on behalf of" or "in favor of". You are saying you work "on behalf of Microsoft". Therefore, I would use "por".

Need more help? Click here for por vs. para

This website has an example of "trabajar" + por

It's a tough concept in Spanish...I still struggle with it myself. Good question. I hope I helped you

Answer 7

This website has an example of "trabajar" + por

The only example of trabajor por that I saw in that article was:

Meaning supporting or in favor of: Trabajamos por derechos humanos. We work for human rights.

I do not think that is the same context as I work for Microsoft.

googling trabajar por Microsoft and trabajar para Microsoft:

I see no uses for trabajar por Microsoft in the first few pages of hits

I see many uses of trabajar para Microsoft in the first few pages of hits.

I like to use the visualization trick that they suggest for por/ para. If the for points back to what is previously written/stated (reason for /motive, etc.) then it is por; if it points to what follows the for then it is para (destination, goal, etc.). To me the for here points to Microsoft, and I believe it should be para.

I like the visualization trick. Could one change "Trabajamos por derechos humanos" to "Trabajamos para ganar derechos humanos" ? "We work, for/on behalf of, human rights" vs "We work, in order to, win human rights" - Durazn0, Jan 3, 2017