preposition/poɾ/
by; for (indicates something given in an exchange); through, out, via (indicating movement); across (indicating movement); about
“La novela Cien años de soledad fue escrita por Gabriel García Márquez.” — The novel One Hundred Years of Solitude was written by Gabriel García Márquez.
Inherited from Old Spanish por, from Late Latin pōr, from Latin prō. Doublet of pro, which was borrowed.
interjection/poɾ/
why do you ask?, why are you asking?
“"¿A dónde vas?" "A mi casa, ¿por?"” — "Where are you going?" "I'm going home, why do you ask?"
Related: a juzgar por, a por, al por menor, algo por ahí, ce por be, como por la palma de la mano, cortar por lo sano, dar por hecho, de no ser por, de por ahí
Inherited from Old Spanish por, from Late Latin pōr, from Latin prō. Doublet of pro, which was borrowed.