What is a chusma?
I've just been called a Chusma (jokingly!) by a colleague for looking at someone elses screen...she said she doesnt mean it as riffraff / vermin etc but she can't say what she means clearly...what is she trying to say?
9 Answers
I agree with Eddy on this one.
Where I come from, and I understand that the meaning is the same in Mexico, "chusma" is used to refer to "low class" people. The best English equivalent I can think of is "riff-raff"
Sorry, I missed your comment about "riff-raff" and "vermin". Nevertheless, that is what it means to me.
It can also be a busybody or nosy person--I'm sure she said it "en broma," though!
In Mexico 'chusma' refers properly to a group of people, a group of bad mannered people, and not to a particular person.
The DRAE says:
chusma.
(Del genovés ant. ciüsma, y este del gr. ????????, canto acompasado del remero jefe para dirigir el movimiento de los remos).
f. Conjunto de gente soez.
f. Muchedumbre de gente vulgar.
f. Conjunto de los galeotes que servían en las galeras reales.
f. Am. Conjunto de indios que, viviendo en comunidad, no eran guerreros, o sea mujeres, niños y viejos considerados en conjunto.
f. despect. Arg. Persona chismosa y entrometida.
f. despect. coloq. Cuba. Persona de modales groseros y comportamiento vulgar.
But then notice than in Argentina the term is used as synonim of nosey or gossip or meddler. And in Cuba means a lowlife person.
Well, I know one used to describe Argentinians, but it's kind of chusma itself. I'll PM it to you for safety purposes. Jeje...
I found one less severe... lol... and it's an Argentinian word so she'll be impressed you know it. "boluda" which is like idiot or jerk, BUT the cool thing is, it specifically says on the web, it's commonly used to joke around with friends. 
You might even get a kick out of this...
Dakie has it for "nosey" "chismear"
But now take yourself to DRAE and check out "chusma" and you will find a completely different meaning. not very pretty really. Keep in mind that so many of these can be taken lightheartedly among friends.
Lets hope she wasn't cuban. This is from the "Urban Dictionary" so I don't know how correct it is.
Originates from Cuban Spanish. Refers to a "lowlife", a cheazy (cheap & sleazy) person, someone with little or no class who often dresses the part, as well - using big, gaudy, overly showy clothing & accessories. "Mira a ese reloj chillon que lleva Cuco. Y mira como habla con boca grande y con tanta vulgaridad. Que gente mas chusma!"
"Look at that big, gaudy watch Coco wears. And look at how he goes around talking all big and with such vulgarity. What a lowlife!" chusma maleducado(a) lowlife cheasy cheazy ghetto
Chusma
Vulgar word in the "Cuban" spanish Language. Eres una chusma.
Meaning...you're a wh**e,sl*t,etc.
If she didn't mean to say that, then I have two ideas:
1.- She did mean to say chismoso (gossip) for looking at the screen.
2.-Sometimes people yell at the dogs meaningless and sometimes non-existent words like that trying to say "go away".
I agree with Luzbonita, and i'll take it a step further by saying, you could probably even consider it a synonym to Metiche. Metiche means "nosey". Hope that helps.
Nice, anyone know any creative insults I can say back to her? She is small and Argentinean if that helps! Nothing too mean!
