什么的(shénme de) is an informal way to express "etc.," and is used to end a list of items when it is obvious to the listener what class of things the speaker is talking about. 什么的 can also be used after a single item if it is obvious enough what might follow.

Structure

List + 什么的

Examples

It can be a little impolite to use 什么的 after a list of peoples names, in which case can be used in place of 什么的. When referring to a list of friends in informal contexts there is no problem using 什么的.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Category: B1 grammar points