Work, a job — usually the grind kind.
Chamba carries effort in a way "trabajo" does not. "Buscar chamba" is job hunting, "chambear" is the verb, and "harta chamba" means slammed. It is neutral and usable almost anywhere short of a formal interview.
One theory traces it to Mexicans in the US filing paperwork at the "chamber" of commerce for work permits; the word came home meaning the job itself.
Argentina and Uruguay say laburo, Costa Rica says brete, Chile says pega, Spain says curro.
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