American vs North America

American and North America both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
American	Yes	Yes	No	No
North America	Yes	No	No	No

American (noun)	North America (noun)
the English language as used in the United States	the nations of the North American continent collectively
a native or inhabitant of the United States	a continent (the third largest) in the western hemisphere connected to South America by the Isthmus of Panama
a native or inhabitant of a North American or Central American or South American country

American (adjective)	North America (adjective)
of or relating to or characteristic of the continents and islands of the Americas
of or relating to the United States of America or its people or language or culture