The word chamba has a Mexican origin that is strongly linked to migration, as well as existing in the language of other Latin American cultures with different connotations. Know the true meaning of the word chamba, the eternal song of the Mexican who does not stop for anything.
Mexicans don’t go to work, they go to work. the word chambaaccording to the Royal Academy of Language, is used to colloquially call the work or employment in MexicoEcuador and other Central American countries.
Nevertheless, the origin of the word chamba in Mexico It has more than one version and they are all real, the point is that it is not possible to be sure when the word chamba was used for the first time.
From Africa to the United States, Mexico has had contact at different times in its history with countries and cultures that could introduce the word chamba to the Mexican lexicon.
Find out how the word chamba originated in the colloquial language of Mexico, its meaning in different Latin American countries and the possible cultures that are suspected of introducing the word chamba in Mexico. Find out what all these stories have in common!
Chamba: The word that defines the Mexican
The Mexican is a chambeador. Regardless of social class or the nature of their work, every Mexican wakes up prepared the night before to go to work. chambear.
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He leaves his house directly to the job His path gives you encouragement to start the adventure of the day. Either on the top floor of the tallest building until nightfall or in the supply center from dawn, feeding all the markets in the city. He who kicks hard, kicks hard.
In Mexico, the word chamba means work. Chamba is colloquially called the work that feeds you, whatever it is. The job is the job.
However, this word may be curious for some and with good reason, because the true origin of the word chamba in Mexico is a mystery; not because of the lack of data, but because it is not known exactly what the true story is.
The origin of the word chamba: Mexico and the United States during World War II
During the WWIIthe United States sent its men to war, which caused women and mexican labor had the opportunity to break into the American workforce.
The agreement was called Bracero Program (1942 – 1965) and allowed Mexican men to work primarily in American fields. At first, the work for foreigners was exclusively in the field of farminghowever, the opportunities could be extended to the mining and construction. To renew their contracts or find a new one, Mexicans had to go to the Chamber of Commerce or Chamber of Commerce of the North American country.
So, the name of Chamber of Commerce, being difficult to pronounce and remember, was reduced to “La Chamber” and later it was known by all Latinos as “La Chamba”; a metamorphosis of language that occurred thanks to the cultural fusion and economic support between the United States and Mexico.
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Since then and thanks to the diffusion through cinema and television in Mexico, we have said “I’m going to Chamba”, “I’m going to look for Chamba” Y “It is very chambeador” to say that we are already going to work, we are looking for a job or that someone has the good habit of working hard.
The meaning of chamba in other Latin American countries
In it Brief etymological dictionary of the Spanish language of Joan Corominas of 1961, it is postulated that since 1884 the word chamba means fluke, which means he wins by sheer luck. In turn, it is believed that the word may derive from chambón, which in old Portuguese means rude or lout.
The word chamba means work in Ecuador, while in Colombia and Venezuela it is a fence that delimits a property; hence chambear could refer to the making of these ditches.
Chamba is also the name of a district in India, as well as the name of a tribe and their languages in Nigeria.
In El Salvador, work it is another way of naming those whose given name is Salvador. Other countries that recognize the word chamba as a synonym for work besides Mexico are Peru and Costa Rica.
The word chamba and the history of slavery in Mexico
Mexico is a country tremendously rich in its cultural diversity, speaking both of their original cultures and those that arrived in the country at some point in history. Unfortunately, these foreign cultures were not always recognized in the history of Mexico due to different factors.
During the Viceroyalty of New Spain African culture was introduced to Mexico; Brought mostly from Portugal. It was a time of slavery and fusion between peoples. The language was no exception in terms of the changes caused by this combination of cultures.
It is believed that the word chamba may be of African origin and that derives from a combination between the indigenous languages of that country with the Portuguese language.
Some suspicions of words that could become the word chamba that we know today are:
- changbe: Word of Yorubo origin that means “Cutting bushes” or “Cleaning land”.
- changbo: Word of Lucumí origin that means “Cutting the mountain for sowing”.
- Chamba in Swahili: For Kiswahili Africans, its meaning is plantation or inheritance, referring to a property that belongs to a person or family.
- Chamba in kiluba: The Katanga tribe, whose language is Kiluba, understands by chamba a tower or mound of earth.
In Mexico expressions abound, so chambear It can also be translated as “earn the potato”, “pursue the chop” or “go to the jale”. No matter which word or expression you prefer to use, you now know that you must say yes when they offer you a job and to say “He who does not want chambear don’t be born” if they tell you Pa’ su mecha! You are a good chambeador!
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