South American refers to anything or anyone from South America, the fourth-largest continent on Earth. When someone says they're South American, they mean they come from countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, or one of the other nations on this vast continent that stretches from the Caribbean Sea down to near Antarctica.

South America is home to remarkable geographic features: the Amazon rainforest (the world's largest), the Andes mountain range (the longest mountain chain on Earth), and the Atacama Desert (one of the driest places anywhere). Over 430 million people live there, speaking primarily Spanish and Portuguese, along with hundreds of indigenous languages that were spoken long before Europeans arrived in the 1500s.

The continent has given the world potatoes, tomatoes, and rubber, all of which originally grew there. South American cultures blend indigenous traditions with Spanish, Portuguese, African, and other influences, creating distinctive music, food, and customs. When you hear about tango dancing, you're learning about South American culture from Argentina. When you eat a Brazilian açaí bowl or Peruvian ceviche, you're tasting South American cuisine.

Note that South American is different from Latin American, which includes Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean in addition to South America.