Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Ég bíð nálægt bankanum.

Nálægt is a preposition meaning “near/close to” and it takes the dative case: nálægt + dative (e.g., nálægt bankanum, nálægt húsinu). It can also be an adverb (“nearby”) with no complement, or the neuter form of the adjective nálægur (“near”), but in this sentence it’s a preposition.

Could I use við or hjá instead of nálægt? What’s the difference?

nálægt + dat = near but not necessarily right at the thing: Ég bíð nálægt bankanum.
við + acc = by/at/right next to or against something: Ég bíð við bankann.
hjá + dat = at/by (often “at someone’s place” or “with an institution”): Ég bíð hjá bankanum ≈ “I’m at the bank (area/with the bank).” It can also mean “work for” with verbs like vinna hjá.

Why is there no word for “for” after “wait”? How do I say “I’m waiting for X near the bank”?

In modern Icelandic you usually say bíða eftir + dative:

Ég bíð eftir henni nálægt bankanum. (I’m waiting for her near the bank.) A more formal/literary option is bíða + genitive:
Ég bíð hennar nálægt bankanum.

Does Ég bíð mean “I wait” or “I am waiting”?

Both. Icelandic present tense covers simple and progressive. To strongly emphasize an ongoing action right now, you can use the “vera að” construction:

Ég er að bíða (nálægt bankanum).

Why is it bíð and not býð?

Different verbs:

bíða = to wait → 1st person singular: bíð
bjóða = to offer → 1st person singular: býð Note that í and ý are pronounced the same in modern Icelandic, so spelling distinguishes them.

How do I pronounce the tricky parts?

Ég: roughly “yeh,” often with a soft, brief back-of-the-throat sound at the end.
bíð: long í; final ð sounds like the unvoiced “th” in “thin” here.
nálægt: á like “ow” in “now,” æ like “eye,” and gt is like the German “ch” in “Bach” plus a t.
bankanum: stress the first syllable; say “BAHN-ka-num” (Icelandic stress is always on the first syllable).

Can I drop Ég and just say Bíð nálægt bankanum?

Not in a normal full sentence. Icelandic is not a “pro‑drop” language, so you keep the subject: Ég bíð... You can omit it only in very elliptical contexts (e.g., note-taking, headlines, or answering a question with fragments).

How do I make the sentence negative?

Put ekki after the finite verb:

Ég bíð ekki nálægt bankanum.

How do I say it in the past or with “have waited” or “will wait”?

Simple past: Ég beið nálægt bankanum.
Present perfect: Ég hef beðið nálægt bankanum.
Future (with modal): Ég mun bíða nálægt bankanum.

Can I front the place phrase for emphasis?

Yes. Icelandic is verb‑second, so if you front nálægt bankanum, the verb still comes second and the subject follows:

Nálægt bankanum bíð ég.

Could nálægt come after the noun, like a postposition?

Yes, in a slightly more literary style: Ég bíð bankanum nálægt. Everyday speech prefers nálægt bankanum before the noun phrase.

What would the indefinite version (“near a bank”) look like?

Use the dative singular without the definite article:

Ég bíð nálægt banka.

What’s the declension of banki relevant to this sentence?

Singular forms you’ll meet here:

Indefinite: nom banki, acc banka, dat banka, gen banka
Definite: nom bankinn, acc bankann, dat bankanum, gen bankans

Are there other prepositions that, like nálægt, take the dative?

Yes. Common dative-only prepositions include frá (from), úr (out of), hjá (at/with), að (to, with certain verbs), samkvæmt (according to), ásamt (along with), and gegnt (opposite). Some prepositions (like í and á) can take accusative or dative depending on motion vs. location.

Does bankanum refer to the building or the institution?

It can be either; context decides. With nálægt, it typically means the physical place. With hjá bankanum, depending on the verb, it can mean being at the bank’s location or being associated with/employed by the bank.