The most commonly spoken language in South America is Spanish. It is the official language in most of the continent's countries, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Portuguese is also widely spoken, particularly in Brazil, which is the largest country in South America. Spanish's dominance can be attributed to the colonial history of the region, with Spain colonizing much of South America from the 16th century onwards. This historical context has solidified Spanish as the primary language of communication, culture, and education in the many nations that comprise the continent.