The short answer
“What to do” is a fixed resignation phrase Indian English speakers attach to the end of almost any statement about an unwanted situation — a direct translation of the Hindi “kya karen.” It sounds like an unanswered question, but no answer is expected. Native English speakers use “oh well” or “it can’t be helped” for the same idea.
Confusing vs. Natural
Indian English
The train was late, what to do.
Natural English
The train was late — there was nothing I could do about it.
Indian English
He doesn't listen, what to do.
Natural English
He just doesn't listen. Oh well.
Indian English
Prices have gone up, what to do.
Natural English
Prices have gone up — it can't be helped.
Indian English
I have to attend, what to do.
Natural English
I have to attend; there's no way around it.
Why Do People Say It?
In Hindi, “kya karen” is a common idiom of resignation — a way of saying “nothing can be done about this” without literally asking for a solution. It plays the same role as English fillers like “oh well” or “such is life.” Because it is phrased as a question in Hindi, speakers translate it word-for-word into English as “what to do,” carrying over the grammatical shape but not the idiomatic meaning.
To a listener unfamiliar with this habit, the phrase can sound like a genuine, unanswered question — leaving them unsure whether they are expected to respond.
Exam tip
For IELTS Speaking and any formal register, drop the tag “what to do” entirely, or replace it with a proper closing statement: “there’s nothing I can do about it,” “it can’t be helped,” or simply end the sentence without a resignation tag at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'what to do' grammatically wrong?+
Not exactly. As a genuine question ('What am I to do?'), it is fine. The confusing part is the Indian English habit of tacking 'what to do' onto the end of almost any statement about an unwanted situation, with no real question intended — it functions as a fixed expression of resignation, not a request for advice.
Why do Indians say 'what to do'?+
It is a direct translation of the Hindi phrase 'kya karen' (literally 'what to do'), which functions in Hindi as an idiom of resignation — the same role English speakers give to 'oh well' or 'such is life'. Speakers carry the exact Hindi phrase into English without converting it to an English idiom.
What should I say instead of 'what to do' in formal English?+
Use 'there's nothing I/we can do about it', 'it can't be helped', or, in casual speech, 'oh well'. These carry the same resignation without sounding like an unanswered question to a listener unfamiliar with the Indian usage.
Read Next
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Why Is 'Do One Thing' Confusing?
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Indian English Errors Hub
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IELTS Writing Grammar Guide
Band 7+ rules for formal register and word choice