South America vs American

South America and American both are nouns.

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

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

South America (adjective)	American (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