South American nation - countries occupying the South American continentcountry, land, state - the territory occupied by a nation; "he returned to the land of his birth"; "he visited several European countries" Chile, Republic of Chile - a republic in southern South America on the western slopes of the Andes on the south Pacific coast Colombia, Republic of Colombia - a republic in northwestern South America; the major legal crop is coffee but cocaine is also a major export Ecuador, Republic of Ecuador - a republic in northwestern South America; became independent from Spain in 1822; the landscape is dominated by the Andes Bolivia, Republic of Bolivia - a landlocked Republic in central South America; Simon Bolivar founded Bolivia in 1825 after winning independence from Spain Brasil, Brazil, Federative Republic of Brazil - the largest Latin American country and the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world; located in the central and northeastern part of South America; world's leading coffee exporter Peru, Republic of Peru - a republic in western South America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; was the heart of the Inca empire from the 12th to 16th centuries Uruguay - a South American republic on the southeast coast of South America; achieved independence from Brazil in 1825 South America - a continent in the western hemisphere connected to North America by the Isthmus of Panama |