Алло, это контактный центр?

Hello, is this the contact center?

Breakdown of Алло, это контактный центр?

• это: it/this
• контактный центр: the contact center
• алло: hello (on the telephone)

Questions & Answers about Алло, это контактный центр?

Why is это used here? Does it mean this or it?

In this sentence, это works like this / that / it is in English, depending on context.

In Алло, это контактный центр?, это introduces identification:

• Это контактный центр? = Is this the contact center? / Is this the contact center speaking?

Russian often uses это in sentences where English uses to be:

• Это мой брат. = This is my brother.
• Это банк? = Is this the bank?

So here, это does not just literally mean this in a physical sense. It helps form an identification question.

Why is there no verb for is in the sentence?

Russian usually omits the verb to be in the present tense.

So:

• Это контактный центр. literally looks like This contact center
• but it means This is the contact center.

The same happens in questions:

• Это контактный центр? = Is this the contact center?

In the past and future, forms of to be do appear:

• Это был контактный центр. = This was the contact center.
• Это будет контактный центр. = This will be the contact center.

But in the present tense, Russian normally leaves is / am / are out.

Is Алло exactly the same as English Hello on the phone?