por
for, because of
One thing is the reason behind another
Encoding Strategies:
repetition
This meaning of por is best translated as because of, as nearly every use connects back to a single idea: one thing is the reason or motivation behind another0.
por
for, because of, due to (cause)
The direct reason or cause behind something happening.
Cerrado por vacacionesClosed for vacation (closed because of vacation)
La detuvieron por una delaciónThey arrested her because of a tip
for (in exchange)
Whatever you receive is the reason you give something else up in exchange.
Te doy veinte pesos por la cobijaI'll give you twenty pesos for the blanket (I'll give you twenty pesos because of the blanket)
Te cambio mi camiseta por la tuyaI’ll trade my shirt for yours (I’ll trade my shirt because of your shirt)
for, in place of (substitution)
Someone does something because of someone else, or on their behalf.
Yo terminaré el trabajo por tiI'll finish the job for you (I'll finish the job because of you, on your behalf)
Firmó el contrato por su hermanoHe signed the contract for his brother (he signed the contract on behalf of his brother)
por
through, by
Something moving through something else
Encoding Strategies:
repetition
This meaning of por is best translated as through, as nearly every use connects back to a single idea: something moving through something else0.
por
through, along, by (passage)
Literal physical movement through or along a space.
El hilo pasa por la agujaThe thread passes through the needle
Caminamos por la orilla del ríoWe walked along the riverbank
Pásate por mi casaCome by my house
around, somewhere in (approximate location)
A vague location that's somewhere in the area you'd pass through, not a precise point.
Ese pueblo está por ToledoThat town is somewhere around Toledo
Hay un restaurante bueno por aquíThere’s a good restaurant around here
by, through, via (medium / means)
The channel your message or action travels through to reach someone.
Te lo mando por correoI'll send it to you by mail
Hablamos por teléfonoWe spoke by phone
by (passive agent)
In a passive sentence, the action passed through someone.
El cuadro fue pintado por ElenaThe painting was painted by Elena (painted through Elena)
La canción fue compuesta por ellaThe song was composed by her (composed through her)
around, during, for (time)
Moving through a window of time.
Estaré allí por NavidadI'll be there around Christmas (passing through Christmas)
Llegó por agostoHe arrived around August (passing through August)
per, times (rate / ratio)
How much of one thing is spread throughout another.
Dos huevos por pastelTwo eggs per cake (two eggs spread throughout one cake)
Tres por cuatro son doceThree times four is twelve (three are found throughout every group of four, giving twelve total)
yet to be, about to (pending action)
When you're about to pass through something (but haven't yet), it's pending.
Quedan plazas por cubrirThere are spots yet to be filled (there are spots remaining through the act of being filled)
Mi papá está por llegarMy dad is about to arrive (my dad is passing through the act of arriving)