Portuguese 'Por': Swapping & Buying (In Exchange For)
por for the 'why' (reason/exchange) and para for the 'where to' (goal/destination).
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'por' when you trade one thing for another, like money for goods or a favor for a favor.
- Use 'por' to indicate the price paid: 'Comprei o livro por dez reais.'
- Use 'por' for an exchange of items: 'Troquei meu carro por uma moto.'
- Use 'por' for services rendered in return: 'Fiz isso por você.'
Overview
The Portuguese preposition por is a fundamental and highly versatile linguistic tool, primarily used to express concepts of exchange, cause, means, duration, and passage. At a B1 CEFR level, understanding por moves beyond simple translation to grasping its nuanced applications, particularly in differentiating it from para. While both can sometimes translate to "for" in English, por consistently implies an intermediary element, a transaction, a reason, or a trajectory.
It frames a relationship where one entity acts in place of another, serves as the driving force behind an action, defines the method of execution, or marks a specific period. Mastering por is crucial for articulating precise meanings in commercial transactions, expressing gratitude, describing substitution, and delineating the path or duration of an event. Its integration into Portuguese reflects a cognitive framework where transfers, motivations, and channels are integral to communication.
How This Grammar Works
por introduces an element that functions as the agent, reason, method, duration, or equivalent value within a given context. It positions the subsequent noun or pronoun as an intermediary force or an item of trade. Conceptually, por acts as a linguistic conduit, linking an action or state to its underlying cause, its mode of operation, or its counter-value.obrigado por sua ajuda (thank you for your help). Here, sua ajuda (your help) is the direct cause for your gratitude, the intangible item for which thanks are exchanged. Similarly, trocar um livro por outro (to exchange one book for another) clearly highlights the equivalence or swap between the two objects involved.por from para, which typically denotes a goal, destination, purpose, or recipient. Por often creates adverbial phrases specifying how, why, for how long, or by what means an action unfolds. Its inherent transactional quality is a key principle, covering both tangible exchanges (money, goods) and intangible ones (favors, gratitude, effort).Vendi meu carro por dez mil euros (I sold my car for ten thousand euros), dez mil euros represents the exact exchange value for the car. The preposition por thus governs the element that either enables, motivates, or is equivalent to the main action or entity.por as answering questions like: "By whom or what?" (agent in passive voice), "For what price or in exchange for what?", "Through what means or path?", "Because of what reason?", or "For how long?". This contrasts with para, which addresses "To whom or what?" (recipient, destination), "For what purpose?", or "By when?" (deadline). This distinction helps clarify which preposition to use in different contexts.Eu comprei o presente por ela.(I bought the present for her – I acted on her behalf, she will reimburse me, or it's a gift for which I'm taking responsibility.)Eu comprei o presente para ela.(I bought the present for her – The present is intended for her as the recipient.)
Formation Pattern
por. However, por frequently contracts with definite articles (o, a, os, as) that immediately follow it. This process of contraction is mandatory in standard Portuguese, ensuring linguistic fluidity and natural rhythm. These contractions are consistent across both Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP) and are essential for correct pronunciation and grammar.
por + Article | Contraction (Masculine Singular) | Contraction (Feminine Singular) | Contraction (Masculine Plural) | Contraction (Feminine Plural) |
por + o/a/os/as | pelo | pela | pelos | pelas |
Eu paguei pela conta. (I paid for the bill. - pela is por + a for a conta.)
Caminhamos pelo parque. (We walked through the park. - pelo is por + o for o parque.)
Eles lutaram pelos seus direitos. (They fought for their rights. - pelos is por + os for os direitos.)
por remains uncontracted:
Por does not contract when it precedes:
um, uma, uns, umas.
Troquei meu carro por um mais novo. (I exchanged my car for a newer one.)
Fiz isso por João. (I did this for John.)
ele, ela, você, este, essa, meu, tua.
Ele fez o trabalho por mim. (He did the work for me.)
Você votou por ele? (Did you vote for him?)
por is followed by a verb in the infinitive, it expresses cause or reason.
Ele foi criticado por chegar atrasado. (He was criticized for arriving late.)
por with a definite article or vice-versa will sound unnatural to native speakers.
When To Use It
Por is used in a wide array of contexts, all stemming from its core meanings of exchange, cause, means, or passage. Each category offers a unique application, contributing to the preposition's versatility.por. It indicates what is given or received as a trade-off, the monetary value of an item, or when someone acts in place of another. This transactional nature extends beyond mere finance to include material goods, favors, and even concepts.- Monetary Exchange/Price: When specifying the cost or value in a transaction.
Comprei a casa por duzentos mil euros.(I bought the house for two hundred thousand euros.)Vendi meu relógio antigo por um bom preço.(I sold my antique watch for a good price.)- Trading/Swapping: When one item is exchanged for another, or an alternative is chosen.
Ela trocou o turno da manhã pelo da tarde.(She exchanged the morning shift for the afternoon one.)Preferiu salada por batatas fritas.(He preferred salad over French fries.)- Substitution/Representation: When someone or something acts on behalf of or in place of another. This is crucial in formal and informal contexts.
O diretor adjunto falou pelo professor que estava ausente.(The assistant director spoke for/on behalf of the absent professor.)Eu trabalho por dois dias, enquanto meu colega está de férias.(I'm working for two days, while my colleague is on vacation – acting in his place.)
Por introduces the underlying reason or cause for an action, a feeling, or a consequence, answering the implicit question of "why?".A cidade foi destruída pelo terremoto.(The city was destroyed by the earthquake.)Ele foi premiado por sua bravura.(He was awarded for his bravery.)Choro por saudades de casa.(I cry out of homesickness.)
Falei com ela por videochamada.(I spoke with her by video call.)Viajamos pelo mar até a ilha.(We traveled by sea to the island.)Recebi as notícias por e-mail.(I received the news by email.)
Por describes movement that passes through, over, or along a specific location.Passamos pelo túnel.(We passed through the tunnel.)Caminhamos pela trilha na floresta.(We walked along the forest trail.)As crianças correram pela casa.(The children ran through the house.)
Esperei por mais de uma hora.(I waited for more than an hour.)Vamos viajar por uma semana no próximo mês.(We're going to travel for a week next month.)Ele ficou doente por um longo período.(He was sick for a long period.)
ser, por introduces the agent who performs the action.A carta foi escrita por minha avó.(The letter was written by my grandmother.)O projeto será concluído pelo novo gerente.(The project will be completed by the new manager.)
Por can express a rate or distribution, often translating to "per."Três vezes por semana.(Three times per week.)Cem reais por pessoa.(One hundred reais per person.)A velocidade era de sessenta quilômetros por hora.(The speed was sixty kilometers per hour.)
por, where its meaning is idiomatic and should be learned as a whole phrase.Por favor(Please)Por exemplo(For example)Por enquanto(For now / In the meantime)Por acaso(By chance / By any chance)Por toda parte(Everywhere)Por um triz(By a hair's breadth / By a whisker)
Common Mistakes
por, primarily due to its semantic breadth and overlap with para. Understanding these pitfalls can significantly improve your accuracy.- Confusing
PorwithPara(The Most Common Error): This is the biggest challenge. Remember the core distinction: Por= exchange, cause, means, through, duration, agent.Para= destination, purpose, recipient, deadline, comparison.
Eu comprei o livro por você.(I bought the book on your behalf; you might reimburse me, or I did it as a favor taking your place.)Eu comprei o livro para você.(I bought the book for you; it's a gift or intended for you as the recipient.)Trabalho por dinheiro.(I work for money; money is the exchange/motivation.)Trabalho para viver.(I work to live; living is the purpose/goal.)Caminhei pela rua.(I walked along/through the street.)Fui para a rua.(I went to the street – destination.)
- Incorrect Contractions: Forgetting to contract
porwith definite articles is a common grammatical slip. - Incorrect:
Vou passear por o parque. - Correct:
Vou passear pelo parque. - Conversely, incorrectly contracting
porwith indefinite articles or pronouns. - Incorrect:
Pelo um amigo. - Correct:
Por um amigo.
- Using
porfor Purpose (whenparais needed): Whileporcan indicate cause, it rarely indicates purpose (thein order tosense), especially with infinitives.Parais almost always used for purpose with infinitives. - Incorrect:
Estudo por passar no exame.(Sounds like: I study because of passing the exam.) - Correct:
Estudo para passar no exame.(I study to pass the exam.)
- Temporal Usage with Specific Points in Time:
Porindicates duration, not a specific point or period an event takes place within. - Incorrect:
O concerto começa por oito horas.(Implies duration: for eight hours.) - Correct:
O concerto começa às oito horas.(The concert starts at eight o'clock.) - Correct for duration:
O concerto durou por três horas.(The concert lasted for three hours.)
- Influence of English "For": The direct translation of "for" often leads to errors. Always consider the underlying meaning (
exchange,purpose,duration,recipient,cause, etc.) rather than a word-for-word translation.
Real Conversations
Understanding por in its practical, everyday usage helps solidify your grasp of this versatile preposition. Here's how you might encounter por in modern Portuguese communication, reflecting both Brazilian and European nuances.
1. Texting/Messaging:
- Obrigado(a) por teres vindo! (EP) / Obrigado(a) por ter vindo! (BP) - "Thanks for coming!" (expressing cause/reason for gratitude)
- Passo por aí depois do almoço. - "I'll pass by there after lunch." (indicating passage/trajectory)
- Vês-me por favor o email? (EP) / Você vê pra mim o email, por favor? (BP, more common with pra) - "Can you check the email for me, please?" (substitution/favor, but notice BP often uses pra informally)
2. Social Media/Online Comments:
- Apaixonada por esta paisagem! - "In love with this landscape!" (expressing cause/reason for emotion, common with verbs like apaixonar-se por)
- Gastei uma fortuna por aquele NFT. - "I spent a fortune on that NFT." (monetary exchange)
- Muitos parabéns pelo teu projeto! - "Many congratulations on your project!" (cause/reason for congratulations)
3. Work Emails/Formal Communication:
- Envio esta mensagem por via aérea. - "I send this message by airmail." (means/method of delivery)
- O atraso foi causado pela greve. - "The delay was caused by the strike." (agent in passive voice)
- Estarei fora do escritório por duas semanas. - "I will be out of the office for two weeks." (duration)
4. Casual Conversation/Dialogue:
- A: Pagaste pelo jantar? (Did you pay for dinner?)
B
Sim, paguei por nós os dois. (Yes, I paid for both of us – indicating substitution, I covered the cost.)- Trocas-me esta moeda por uma de um euro? - "Can you swap this coin for a one-euro coin?" (direct exchange)
- Foi tudo por água abaixo. - "Everything went down the drain." (idiomatic expression)
In BP, you might occasionally hear informal uses of pra (para a) where EP or formal BP would use pela (por a), especially when implying a loose sense of exchange or purpose. However, for por's core functions, the pelo/pela contractions are consistently used.
Quick FAQ
por.- Is
poralways followed by an article?
Por only contracts with definite articles (o, a, os, as). It remains uncontracted when followed by indefinite articles (um, uma), pronouns (mim, você, ele), proper nouns without an article (Maria), or infinitives (correr).fiz isso por você (I did that for you) or paguei por um café (I paid for a coffee).- How do I know when to use
porversusparafor "for"?
por for exchange, cause, means, passage, duration, or the agent in the passive voice. Use para for destination, purpose, recipient, or a deadline.por. If you're indicating where something is going, or the goal of an action, it's para.- What about
proandpra? Aren't those also contractions?
Pro (para o) and pra (para a) are informal contractions of the preposition para with definite articles. They are not contractions of por. While common in informal Brazilian Portuguese speech and writing, they should be avoided in formal contexts.por contractions (pelo, pela).- Can
porexpress movementtoa place?
Por indicates movement through or along a place (passar pelo parque - to pass through the park). Movement to a destination is typically expressed with para (ir para a loja - to go to the store) or a (chegar à casa - to arrive at the house).- Does
porhave other meanings beyond exchange and buying?
por preguiça), means (por telefone), duration (por duas horas), and the agent in passive constructions (escrito por ele). While this article highlights exchange, its broader applications are equally important for comprehensive understanding.Contractions of 'Por'
| Preposition | Article | Resulting Form |
|---|---|---|
|
por
|
o
|
pelo
|
|
por
|
a
|
pela
|
|
por
|
os
|
pelos
|
|
por
|
as
|
pelas
|
Meanings
The preposition 'por' is used to express the concept of exchange, price, or substitution, effectively acting as a bridge between two items being swapped.
Price/Cost
Indicates the amount paid for a good or service.
“Comprei esta camisa por vinte dólares.”
“Vendi minha bicicleta por um preço baixo.”
Exchange/Swap
Indicates trading one object for another.
“Troquei meu relógio por um novo.”
“Posso trocar este ingresso por outro?”
Substitution/Favor
Doing something in place of someone or as a return for a favor.
“Eu trabalho por ele hoje.”
“Fiz isso por você.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Item + por + Price
|
Comprei por dez.
|
|
Negative
|
Não + Item + por + Price
|
Não comprei por dez.
|
|
Question
|
Por + quanto + Verb
|
Por quanto vendeu?
|
|
Exchange
|
Trocar X por Y
|
Troquei o carro por moto.
|
|
Substitution
|
Fazer por alguém
|
Fiz por ele.
|
|
Contraction
|
Por + o
|
Pelo preço.
|
Formality Spectrum
Paguei dez reais pela mercadoria. (Shopping)
Paguei dez reais por isso. (Shopping)
Paguei dez conto. (Shopping)
Foi dezão. (Shopping)
The Por Exchange Map
Money
- Preço Price
Trade
- Troca Swap
Favor
- Substituição Substitution
Examples by Level
O café custa cinco reais por xícara.
The coffee costs five reais per cup.
Eu paguei dez por este pão.
I paid ten for this bread.
Comprei por um bom preço.
I bought it for a good price.
Quanto por isso?
How much for this?
Troquei minha blusa por uma calça.
I swapped my blouse for pants.
Vendi o carro por um valor justo.
I sold the car for a fair value.
Pelo preço, vale a pena.
For the price, it's worth it.
Posso trocar este por aquele?
Can I swap this one for that one?
Fiz este favor por você.
I did this favor for you.
Ele deu a vida por sua família.
He gave his life for his family.
Trabalhei por ele durante as férias.
I worked for him during the holidays.
Pela quantia oferecida, aceito.
For the amount offered, I accept.
Negociamos a casa por um valor abaixo do mercado.
We negotiated the house for a price below market value.
Não trocaria minha liberdade por dinheiro nenhum.
I wouldn't trade my freedom for any money.
Ele foi contratado por um salário alto.
He was hired for a high salary.
Pelo esforço que fez, merece o prêmio.
For the effort he made, he deserves the prize.
A empresa foi vendida por uma cifra astronômica.
The company was sold for an astronomical figure.
Sacrificou tudo por um ideal.
He sacrificed everything for an ideal.
Pelo valor da causa, todos se uniram.
For the value of the cause, everyone united.
Trocar o certo pelo duvidoso é arriscado.
Trading the certain for the doubtful is risky.
A justiça foi feita por um preço alto para a sociedade.
Justice was served at a high price for society.
Pelo que se depreende do contrato, a troca é obrigatória.
From what is inferred from the contract, the exchange is mandatory.
Ele se fez passar por outro por necessidade.
He passed himself off as another out of necessity.
Pela magnitude do investimento, esperam-se resultados.
For the magnitude of the investment, results are expected.
Easily Confused
Both translate to 'for' in English.
Gender agreement.
Preposition vs Interrogative.
Common Mistakes
Paguei para o pão.
Paguei pelo pão.
Comprei por o preço.
Comprei pelo preço.
Quanto para isso?
Quanto por isso?
Eu troco este a aquele.
Eu troco este por aquele.
Vendi para dez reais.
Vendi por dez reais.
Troquei a camisa em um livro.
Troquei a camisa por um livro.
Fiz para você.
Fiz por você.
Ele trabalha para mim hoje.
Ele trabalha por mim hoje.
Pelo o que eu vi, é caro.
Pelo que eu vi, é caro.
Troquei o certo para o duvidoso.
Troquei o certo pelo duvidoso.
Foi feito para o governo.
Foi feito pelo governo.
Pela a magnitude...
Pela magnitude...
Ele se passou para médico.
Ele se passou por médico.
Sentence Patterns
Eu paguei ___ por ___.
Eu troquei ___ por ___.
Eu faria isso por ___.
Pelo ___, eu aceito.
Real World Usage
Quanto por este item?
Troco por um café.
Trabalho por um salário justo.
Paguei pelo pedido.
Quanto por noite?
Pelo valor estipulado.
The Price Rule
Don't forget the contraction
Favor vs Purpose
Regional variation
Smart Tips
Always use 'por'.
Use 'pelo' instead of 'por o'.
Use 'por' to show the favor is a trade.
Use 'pelo' to sound professional.
Pronunciation
Contractions
Pelo is pronounced 'PEH-loo' in Brazil and 'PEH-lu' in Portugal.
Question
Por quanto? ↗
Rising intonation for inquiry.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Por' as a 'Price-Or-Replacement' bridge.
Visual Association
Imagine a scale. On one side, you place a coin. On the other, an apple. The word 'POR' is the metal bar holding the scale together.
Rhyme
When you buy or when you trade, use 'por' for the price you paid.
Story
Maria went to the market. She wanted an apple. She gave a coin. She said, 'Compro esta maçã por uma moeda.' The vendor agreed. They swapped.
Word Web
Challenge
Go to a virtual store website in Portuguese and write down 5 items with their prices using 'por'.
Cultural Notes
In Brazil, 'por' is often dropped in very informal speech, but 'pelo' is strictly used.
In Portugal, the distinction between 'por' and 'para' is very clear and strictly followed.
Similar to Portugal, formal usage is preferred in business.
Comes from Latin 'per', meaning 'through' or 'by'.
Conversation Starters
Quanto você pagou por esse celular?
Você trocaria seu carro por uma bicicleta?
Você já fez algum favor por alguém hoje?
Por qual motivo você compraria este produto?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Eu paguei dez reais ___ pão.
Paguei ___ preço justo.
Find and fix the mistake:
Troquei o carro para uma moto.
Eu paguei por isso.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Quanto custa? B: ___ dez reais.
eu / por / troquei / livro / caneta
'Para' is used for price.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesEu paguei dez reais ___ pão.
Paguei ___ preço justo.
Find and fix the mistake:
Troquei o carro para uma moto.
Eu paguei por isso.
Match 'por' usage.
A: Quanto custa? B: ___ dez reais.
eu / por / troquei / livro / caneta
'Para' is used for price.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesTroquei meu carro ___ uma moto.
Eu falo para você na reunião.
pelo / obrigado / presente / muito
I paid for the tickets.
Qual frase indica um preço?
Match the following:
Sinto muito ___ que aconteceu.
Obrigado para o convite!
dois / compramos / por / euros / tudo
Eu troco curtidas por comentários.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, 'para' is for purpose. Use 'por' for price.
It is the contraction of 'por' + 'o'.
Yes, it is standard in all registers.
Because both translate to 'for' in English.
Use 'pela casa' (feminine).
Yes, it is identical in both.
Yes, but that is a different rule (duration).
Try shopping in a virtual store.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
por
The main difference is in the contraction rules.
pour
French uses 'pour' for purpose, while Portuguese uses 'por' for price.
für
Portuguese splits these into 'por' and 'para'.
ni
Japanese is agglutinative, not prepositional.
bi
Arabic uses prefixes instead of prepositions.
用 (yòng)
Chinese lacks prepositions in the same way.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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