something; something or other; so-and-so
Used as a placeholder for an unspecified thing or person, often in the set phrase 何とか彼とか (なんとかかんとか) meaning 'something or other'. The standalone use is rare.
See also: なんとかかんとか
He was making excuses, saying something or other.
「かんとか」だけではあまり使わず、「なんとかかんとか」の形でよく使う。
The word かんとか is rarely used alone; it is often used in the form なんとかかんとか.
Katakana spelling used for emphasis or in informal writing.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 彼 (usually read かれ or かの) is used here for its meaning 'that', combined with とか (a particle indicating uncertainty or listing). The reading かんとか may be a phonetic shift from かのとか or a contraction.