Where Is America? The Americas as a Landmass

America (or the Americas) refers to the entire landmass of the Western Hemisphere — comprising:

• North America: Canada, US, Mexico, Greenland, Bermuda, St. Pierre & Miquelon.
• Central America: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama.
• South America: Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay.
• Caribbean: 13 sovereign states + 17 territories (Cuba, Haiti, DR, Jamaica, PR, etc.).

Usage Note

• In English: "America" often = United States; "the Americas" = both continents.
• In Spanish/Portuguese/French: América = single continent (sometimes divided into Norte, Centro, Sur).
• Geologically: North & South America are separate tectonic plates; joined by Isthmus of Panama (~3 Ma).

The term derives from Amerigo Vespucci (1454–1512), whose voyages confirmed a "New World" — named America on Waldseemüller's 1507 map.