In English, both of these words mean ‘for’, however in Spanish depending on the context, there is a correct one to use.
As a general rule, ‘por’ is used when referring to a travel/motion through a place or location, and ‘para’ refers to the destination/end goal of the journey.
Below are some examples of when each is used…
I am going to Spain for a week= Voy a España por una semana.
I want a table for four people= Quiero una mesa para cuatro personas.
The bus leaves for Valencia in ten minutes= El autobús para Valencia sale en diez minutos.
I need to hire a car for two day= Necesito alquilar un coche por dos días.
This is a difficult topic to get your head around at first, but the more you hear the different situations when each word is used, the easier it becomes.
