Página vs. hoja vs. plana
The Spanish words 'página', 'hoja', and 'plana' are often related to paper or written material, but they have distinct uses and meanings.
Página
'Página' refers to a page in a book, magazine, or digital document.
El capítulo comienza en la página 23.
(The chapter begins on page 23.)
Visita nuestra página web para más información.
(Visit our webpage for more information.)
Hoja
'Hoja' means a sheet of paper or a leaf from a plant.
Necesito una hoja de papel para escribir una nota.
(I need a sheet of paper to write a note.)
Las hojas de los árboles cambian de color en otoño.
(The leaves of the trees change color in autumn.)
Plana
'Plana' can refer to a page, particularly in the context of newspapers or old-fashioned writing exercises.
El artículo ocupa toda la plana del periódico.
(The article takes up the entire page of the newspaper.)
El estudiante debe completar una plana de caligrafía.
(The student must complete a page of handwriting practice.)
Summary
While 'página' is the most common term for a page in various contexts, 'hoja' refers to a physical sheet of paper or a leaf, and 'plana' is used more specifically for newspaper pages or writing exercises. Each word has its unique applications in Spanish, reflecting different aspects of written or printed material.