South America is a continent.
Brazil ( listen ) , is the largest country in both South America and Latin America . South America . Brazil is by far the most populous South American country , with more than half of the continent 's population , followed by Colombia , Argentina , Venezuela and Peru . Most of the continent lies in the tropics . The continent 's cultural and ethnic outlook has its origin with the interaction of indigenous peoples with European conquerors and immigrants and , more locally , with African slaves .