Quote Originally Posted by anthonyd
Quote Originally Posted by TATY
Meh, it's just a voice version of straight.
I disagree with you completely. Straight and здравствуйте are nothing alike.
Notice just the STR was highlighted.

I made a typo, but meant: It's a voiced version of straight, meaning the consonant cluster at the beginning.

S is just a devoiced Z (З)
T is just a devoiced D (Д)

Basically the tongue in English ST, is the the same place and follows the same route as Russian ЗД........ although not strictly true since Russian T and D are dental, but that is hardly any difference.