Learn Spanish (Spain): ¿Te gusta la mermelada de naranja?

The verb gustar works differently than 'to like' in English. It literally means 'to be pleasing to'. So ¿Te gusta la mermelada? is structured like 'Is the jam pleasing to you?'. Since la mermelada is singular, we use the singular verb gusta.

Why is there a la before mermelada? In English, we don't say 'Do you like the orange jam?'

In Spanish, when you talk about a general category or something you like or dislike in general, you must use the definite article (el, la, los, or las). English drops the article here, but Spanish requires it.

Why is it mermelada de naranja instead of naranja mermelada?

In English, you can put two nouns together like 'orange jam'. In Spanish, you cannot do this. Instead, you put the main thing first (mermelada), add de (of), and then the ingredient or flavor (naranja).

Doesn't mermelada just mean 'marmalade'?

It sounds like it, but mermelada is the general word for 'jam' of any flavor in Spanish. If you wanted strawberry jam, you would say mermelada de fresa.

Why is it de naranja and not de naranjas, since jam is made from many oranges?