adverb, noun
how much; how many; to what extent
Interrogative word asking about quantity, degree, or extent. Can be used as an adverb or noun. Slightly formal or literary compared to どのくらい or いくら.
この仕事には何ほどの時間がかかりますか。
How much time will this work take?
彼の言葉に何ほどの真実があるのだろうか。
How much truth is there in his words, I wonder.
Compound of 何 (nani, 'what') and ほど (hodo, 'extent, degree'). The kanji 程 reinforces the meaning of extent or amount.