para
Spanish, preposition
para is spelled P-A-R-A (4 letters) and appears 8,318 times per million words in written Spanish, the 18th most frequent Spanish word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). Para is a Spanish preposition meaning “for, to (expressing a recipient)” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). It is also a third-person singular present indicative of parar. With an accent, pará is a different word: “second-person singular voseo imperative of parar”. The Spanish Wiktionary (Wikcionario) defines it as “Indica el objetivo o finalidad de la acción”.
What does para mean in English?
preposition
- 1
for, to (expressing a recipient)
La niña compró un regalo de navidad para su abuela.
- 2
to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)
Estudio cada noche sin descanso para conseguir un trabajo decente al fin de todo esto.
- 3
by, due, due on, due by (expressing a deadline)
Necesito tu decisión para fin de mes.
- 4
for (expressing contrast from what is expected)
Para un turista americano, él es en realidad bastante respetuoso.
- 5
for, to, in one's opinion, as far as one is concerned (expressing an opinion, perception or perspective)
Para mí, la música es lo único bueno sobre esa película.
- 6
for (expressing using one's efforts for a group or an authority figure such as a sports team or a company/boss)
Mi sobrino juega para el equipo de los Patos Poderosos.
- 7
come (used to indicate a point in time at or after which a stated event or situation occurs)
Para septiembre, me estaré quedando atrás.
- 8
toward (indicates direction)
ir para arriba / abajo / la izquierda / la derecha / delante / detrás
noun
- 1
derogatorymasculineparamilitary
verb
- 1
third-person singular present indicative
- 2
second-person singular imperative
verb
- 1
first/third-person singular present subjunctive
- 2
third-person singular imperative
prefix
- 1
para-
verb
- 1
second-person singular voseo imperative of parar
Source: English Wiktionary, Spanish section, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0).
How Spanish dictionaries define it
preposition: 1. Indica el objetivo o finalidad de la acción. 2. Indica el uso o destino que se le da a algo. 3. Indica el destinatario de la acción. 4. Indica aptitudes personales.
prefix: 1. Indica "junto a", "al margen de", "contra".
prefix: 1. Forma palabras compuestas indicando "detener", "parar", "proteger contra".
The definition in the Spanish Wiktionary (Wikcionario), in Spanish.
Source: Spanish Wiktionary (Wikcionario), dump of September 1, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org.
Forms of para
- pora alternative obsolete
- pa alternative colloquial
- pá alternative colloquial
- pa' alternative colloquial
- paras plural
Source: English Wiktionary and Spanish Wiktionary (Wikcionario) (dumps of September 2, 2026 and September 1, 2026).
English words that translate to para
Source: the translation tables of the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026.
How common is para in Spanish?
para appears 8,318 times per million words in written Spanish.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).