estudiar para
/estudjaɾ paɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'study for' is translated into Spanish as estudiar para.
Use estudiar para when you want to express spending time learning a subject to prepare for a specific goal, such as an upcoming exam.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb estudiar (to study) and the preposition para (for/in order to).
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are studying for a specific masculine noun like examen, the preposition para is followed by the definite article el to form estudiar para el. When studying for a specific feminine noun like prueba, para is followed by the definite article la to form estudiar para la.
How do you pronounce it?
/estudjaɾ paɾa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using estudiar por to express the purpose or goal of your studying, such as an exam. While this might mean 'study by' or 'study because of', you should use estudiar para instead.
Did you know?
- In Spain, a student might use the phrase matarse estudiando to say they are studying for an exam, which literally translates to 'killing oneself studying'.
- The word estudiar originates from the Latin studium, which originally meant 'zeal' or 'eagerness' rather than just academic work.
- The word para is a linguistic blend of the Latin words prō and ad. These two separate prepositions eventually merged into a single form in Spanish.
Examples in context
- Debería estudiar para el examen.I should study for the test.This sentence is useful for expressing a recommendation to study for the test using estudiar para.Tatoeba #10290752 by Shishir, translation #12994183 by rul
- Tenía mucho que estudiar para el examen.He had a lot to study for the test.This sentence shows how to describe having a lot of study work to do for the test using estudiar para.Tatoeba #5322350 by baudelaire, translation #5324864 by Amittai
- ¿Puedo ayudarte a estudiar para tu examen?Can I help you study for your exam?This sentence is a way to offer help to someone studying for their exam using estudiar para.Tatoeba #9472393 by hayastan, translation #9472359 by CK
- Necesito estudiar para el examenI need to study for the exam
- Es importante prepararse para el examenIt's important to study for the exam
- Tienes que meterle horas al estudio para aprobar el examenYou have to put in hours of study to pass the exam
- Necesito repasar para el examenI need to review for the exam
- Voy a hincarle el diente al estudioI'm going to study hard
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are talking in a library.
- María¿Vas a estudiar para la prueba de mañana?Are you going to study for tomorrow's test?
- MateoSí, necesito estudiar para el examen de historia.Yes, I need to study for the history exam.
- MaríaYo también tengo que estudiar para ese examen.I also have to study for that exam.
- MateoEntonces, estudiemos juntos en la biblioteca.Then, let's study together in the library.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries estudiar, para, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
