anything else vs. what else

[honeyzzz_27]

When to use anything else and what else?

[Tdol]

I'd use 'anything else' when, for example, serving someone- that's what they ask in shops, etc. 'What else' could be used when, say, someone is telling you a story and you know it is incomplete.

[rewboss]

"What else?" means you are certain that there is something else to follow -- you want to know what it is. You cannot answer "No" to this question.

"Anything else?" means you don't know if there is something else to follow -- there could be, but there might not be. You can answer "No" to this question.

"Anything else?" is more polite than "What else?". Because "what else?" means that there is something else, it is often used when the speaker is impatient: "What else? Come on, I know there's something else, don't keep me waiting!"