Abstract: Described herein is a multi-phase transverse flux machine, which comprises a stator with essentially U-shaped and I-shaped cores (1, 2) of a soft-magnetic material and respectively one stator winding (3) for each phase that generates a magnetic flux in these cores, as well as a rotor with circular magnetic return path (4). The phases of the stator are magnetically separated. The rotor contains electrically conductive material (5, 6) in each of the phases, wherein the electrically conductive material of at least two phases is arranged and is interconnected in the rotor, such that if an alternating current flows through the stator windings of these phases, a current generating a starting torque for the rotor is induced in the electrically conductive material. The at least two phases thus electrically form a rotating magnetic field machine in the rotor.