Formal vs informal address is built into the grammar
Russian distinguishes a formal "you" (вы) from an informal one (ты), and "Здравствуйте" is tied to the formal register, while "Привет" pairs with the informal one. Defaulting to the formal phrases above is the safer choice with strangers, service staff, or anyone clearly older than you.
Cyrillic looks harder than it actually sounds
Cyrillic shares more letters with the Latin alphabet than it first appears — а, о, к, м, and т look and sound similar to their Latin counterparts — though several letters that look Latin actually represent different sounds, like "р" (an "r" sound, not "p") and "н" (an "n" sound, not "h").
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "Пожалуйста" really used for both "please" and "you're welcome"?
Yes — context tells them apart. Before or during a request it means "please," and as a reply right after someone says "spasibo," it means "you're welcome."
Do I need to learn the Cyrillic alphabet to use these phrases?
Not strictly, since the pronunciation guide lets you say them aloud without reading Cyrillic, but recognizing even a handful of Cyrillic letters makes it much easier to read signs and menus once you arrive.