"Para mi" or "Por mi"?

Question

In Spain the waiter asks what we want to drink. I say "Para mi esposa un café con leche, y para mi una cerveza."

Is "para" correct in this context, or should I be using "por"?

Para is fine. - annierats, Aug 2, 2015

Yes, it is almost correct, it only needs an accent on the second "mi". Like this: "mÍ". - crucesignatus, Aug 2, 2015

"Para" is correct. - crucesignatus, Aug 2, 2015

Answer 1

Hello Alanka. I will try to explain you the diference with my terrible english.

Para ti. It's used with a material thing. For example: i have made this paint for you. He hecho ÉSTE CUADRO para ti.(the paint is for you)

Por ti. It means because of you.i have made this paint BECAUSE OF you. He hecho éste cuadro por ti (the paint is not important , the important thing is the intention. It is made especially for you ).

I hope be usefull. Please correct my english.

First: "Painting" not "Paint", Para means "for your sake" or "to give to you" Por ti means "because" of you. I have made this "painting". Finally remember that the pronoun "I" and all languages are capitalized: English, Spanish, etc. Gracias por tu ayuda - Jubilado, Aug 2, 2015

Thank you so much txelis, your explanation is very clear! Getting this kind of help is what makes this Q & A forum so useful. - Alanka, Aug 2, 2015

thank you jubilado for your corrections - 000a35ff, Aug 3, 2015

Answer 2

Caution!

Thank you for that! - Alanka, Aug 2, 2015

In this case the second "mi" should have an accent. Like this: "mí". - crucesignatus, Aug 4, 2015

Try this link-http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/276071/por-and-para.enlightened-#q276071 - ray76, Aug 4, 2015

Answer 3

This has been very well answered already but if I may just throw in my dos pesetas worth with reference to what's being said above. "Para" is always used when there's a recipient, when somebody is getting something i.e. La cerveza es para mí. Este regalo es para ti. Apart from being translated as for it often works well when translated as In order to as in the song La Bamaba the first line being:- Para bailar la bamba... which to me translates as:- In order to dance the bamba ... On the point of "mi or mí ", the way that I remember which is by thinking that:- with a dot above the English i *(pronounced eye) the word is my . With an accent above the Spanish í (pronounced ee ) it's me . Hope this is helpful.

Good rule! "Para" when there's a recipient. Like it! Thanks v much for that. - Alanka, Aug 4, 2015

De nada Alanka - tomasdeAlba, Aug 4, 2015

Very well explanation tomasdeAlva! :) - crucesignatus, Aug 4, 2015

Muchas gracias Crucesignatu - tomasdeAlba, Aug 4, 2015

Nota: CerveZa, (typo) - Daniela2041, Aug 4, 2015

ups! Gracias Daniela2041 - tomasdeAlba, Aug 4, 2015

Answer 4

This has nothing to do with answering this question. It has been answered quite well.

This has to do with pronunciation.

If you say "pot o' tea" quickly it sounds like "para ti"

jeje, never thought of that. - annierats, Aug 4, 2015

It's a little teaching tool I use to teach the pronunciation of the single "r". (to avoid the American "ahr" sound) - Daniela2041, Aug 4, 2015

I tried saying "pot o' tea" quickly several times (in my English accent), puzzled why it wasn't sounding much like "para ti". Then I suddenly realised that it only works if you say it with an American drawl !!! It's really clever Daniela! Duh!! - Alanka, Aug 4, 2015

If your English accent includes dropping the "t" in "pot", you're right it's not going to work. The American "t" is always pronunced like the single Spanish "r"--just a slight tap of the tongue against the roof of the mouth just behind the teeth. - Daniela2041, Aug 4, 2015

Well then we need to change something. We can't have that confusion. You know in Spanish to avoid problems like this they change the gender of the pronoun, you know la agua became el agua. So maybe we should change pot to potter but just in this.... - gringojrf, Aug 25, 2015

...special circumstance. After all we don't want English sounding like Spanish now do we? - gringojrf, Aug 25, 2015

It wouldn't hurt. :) - Daniela2041, Aug 25, 2015

Answer 5

Je-je-je-jeeeee - Alanka, Aug 2, 2015

I don't get it, Annie. For my glasses (goggles)? And there are 5 beers. Please explain, thanks! - Jubilado, Aug 2, 2015

Hay tres tipos de persona en el mundo -- las que saben contar, y las que no. - Alanka, Aug 2, 2015

Entonces hay cuatro--las que necesitan anteojos (sin ellos no pueden ver cuántos vasos hay) - Daniela2041, Aug 4, 2015

Jubilado, do you wear glases? Do you drink? Clearly not... - annierats, Aug 4, 2015

Sin los anteojos, no puede ver que hay C I N C O vasos. - Daniela2041, Aug 25, 2015

Answer 6

"para" is correct.

I would suggest you to look in English at different prases where "for" is used and start thinking about the context each time it is used.

That will give you a better grasp at what you are trying to learn in Spanish, a language you still don't understand....

Do I make sense with this advice?

Edit for Alanka:

Correct. When you try to translate only a random word or phrase you are cheating yourself out of context.

That's why I recommend translating a novel. Context will help you every step of the way and make it simple to discern stuff like that.

Please read my blog. I just added one more entry, the link is in my profile.

Do not get mad, just assess what I am telling you and you will see that you will advanced like never before. That's all I have to say about my entries here and anywhere else.

If you find my method interesting and or that it has potential, please go over my answers here and there and see if you can work them out like I outline in my method.

Simple. Do not get mad. I am trying to help. But that help has to be taken and accepted. I do this for free.

OK?

Thanks.

I do try, Chileno, to consider context! I had doubts after reading a joke containing: "Por ti escalaría el monte más alto.” Evidently “for” has a different meaning here than in “a beer for me”, although it does seem similar to my ears. Is there a rule? - Alanka, Aug 2, 2015

But you are trying to look at it in Spanish and I am telling you todo this in English. Translate to English, you native language, first, it will help you in the long run - chileno, Aug 3, 2015

In English: "For you I would climb the highest mountain", still didn't help me with "para" or "por"! But the other replies did help. - Alanka, Aug 4, 2015

Please read my edit: - chileno, Aug 4, 2015

The lyrics of the song "Por Ti Volaré" show the different meaning of "para" and "por" - chantaneeyip, Aug 25, 2015

Answer 7

Well done.

Para = For. Por = By.

"Para" is one of the most common prepositions in Spanish (maybe number one). It's use is very common, you will see.

for = por/para by = por - chileno, Aug 25, 2015