Learn Russian: Это место свободно?

Свободно is a short-form adjective. In Russian, we use short forms to describe a temporary state or condition. Since you are asking if the seat is unoccupied right now, the short form is required. Using the long form (свободное) would sound strange here, more like asking if it is a "free and unrestricted" place.

Why does свободно end in -о instead of -ен?

Short-form adjectives must match the gender and number of the noun they describe. Because место is a neuter noun, the short adjective takes the neuter ending -о, becoming свободно. If you were asking about a masculine noun, like a table (стол), you would use the masculine form свободен.

I learned that место means "place". Why is it translated as "seat" here?

While место literally means "place" or "spot", it is the standard Russian word used for a "seat" in public spaces like cafes, buses, theaters, or waiting rooms.

Why is it Это место? Doesn't это usually mean "this is"?