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"Estar por" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to be near", and "estar para" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to be for". Learn more about the difference between "estar por" and "estar para" below.
estar por(
ehs
-
tahr
pohr
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
3. (to support)
a. to be for
Yo estoy por que cenemos antes de ir al cine.I'm for having dinner before going to the movies.
b. to be in favor of (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Yo siempre estoy por el cambio. "Transformarse o morir" es mi lema.I'm always in favor of change. "Change or die" is my motto.
c. to be in favour of (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Nuestro partido está por la reforma de la ley electoral.Our party is in favour of the electoral law reform.
a. to be thinking of
Están tardando mucho. Estoy por llamarlos.They're very late. I was thinking of calling them.
b. to be on the verge of
Es un maleducado. He estado por colgarle el teléfono.He's so rude. I was on the verge of hanging up on him.
a. to remain to be
Está por ver si cumplen o no sus promesas electorales.It remains to be seen whether they'll keep or not their electoral promises.
b. to have yet to be
Cuando eres joven, te parece que todo está por por inventar.When you're young, it seems to you everything has yet to be invented.
a. to be attentive to
Ramón estuvo toda la tarde muy por su esposa. Yo creo que está enamoradísimo de ella.Ramon was the whole afternoon very attentive to his wife. I think he's really in love with her.
a. to be crazy about
Juan está por Carmen. ¿Viste cómo la mira?Juan is crazy about Carmen. Did you notice the way he looks at her?
8. (used to indicate imminence) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to be about to
Todo parece indicar que la guerra está por estallar en el país.Everything seems to point to the fact that war is about to break out in the country.
estar para(
ehs
-
tahr
pah
-
rah
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. to be for
Cualquier cosa que necesites saber, pregúntanos, que para eso están los compañeros.Anything you need to know, ask us. That's what colleagues are for.
b. to be there for
¿Por qué no te has secado las manos? La toalla está para eso, ¿sabes?Why didn't you dry your hands? That's what the towel is there for, you know?
c. to be here for
Antes de entrar, límpiense los pies en el felpudo, que para eso está.Before coming in, wipe your feet on the door mat, because that's what it's here for.
d. to be to
¿Por qué no te pides una baja maternal? Digo yo que los derechos están para ejercerlos.Why don't you take maternity leave? I'd say rights are to be exercised.
a. to be in the mood for
Hoy tengo dolor de cabeza y no estoy para tonterías, así que ve directo al grano.Today I have a headache and am not in the mood for nonsense, so get to the point.
a. to be about to
Estaba para llamarle cuando me llamó él a mí.I was about to call him when he called me.
b. to be on the point of
Estábamos para irnos a acostar cuando llegaron ellos.We were on the point of going to bed when they arrived.
