I have long been confused about wilful - вольный. It's funny how these two words seem so close but have opposite connotations. Вольный = free (positive) Упрямый = wilful (negative) or willful(U.S. spelling) The wilful person hurts people just because they don't value anyone else's feelings, so this is one of the worst things you can call someone. Вольный, in contrast, is one of the best things you can be.