diff --git a/locales/en.json b/locales/en.json
index 86f36749b..e7bfd2ded 100644
--- a/locales/en.json
+++ b/locales/en.json
@@ -335,6 +335,24 @@
     "service_conf_up_to_date": "The configuration is already up-to-date for service '{service}'",
     "service_conf_updated": "The configuration has been updated for service '{service}'",
     "service_conf_would_be_updated": "The configuration would have been updated for service '{service}'",
+    "service_description_avahi-daemon": "allows to reach your server using yunohost.local on your local network",
+    "service_description_dnsmasq": "handles domain name resolution (DNS)",
+    "service_description_dovecot": "allows e-mail client to access/fetch email (via IMAP and POP3)",
+    "service_description_fail2ban": "protects against bruteforce and other kind of attacks from the Internet",
+    "service_description_glances": "monitors system information on your server",
+    "service_description_metronome": "manage XMPP instant messaging accounts",
+    "service_description_mysql": "stores applications data (SQL database)",
+    "service_description_nginx": "serves or provides access to all the websites hosted on your server",
+    "service_description_nslcd": "handles YunoHost user shell connection",
+    "service_description_php5-fpm": "runs applications written in PHP with nginx",
+    "service_description_postfix": "used to send and receive emails",
+    "service_description_redis-server": "a specialized database used for rapid data access, task queue and communication between programs",
+    "service_description_rmilter": "checks various parameters in emails",
+    "service_description_rspamd": "filters spam, and other email-related features",
+    "service_description_slapd": "stores users, domains and related information",
+    "service_description_ssh": "allows you to connect remotely to your server via a terminal (SSH protocol)",
+    "service_description_yunohost-api": "manages interactions between the YunoHost web interface and the system",
+    "service_description_yunohost-firewall": "manages open and close connexion ports to services",
     "service_disable_failed": "Unable to disable service '{service:s}'\n\nRecent service logs:{logs:s}",
     "service_disabled": "The service '{service:s}' has been disabled",
     "service_enable_failed": "Unable to enable service '{service:s}'\n\nRecent service logs:{logs:s}",
diff --git a/src/yunohost/service.py b/src/yunohost/service.py
index 866fab414..b252f0873 100644
--- a/src/yunohost/service.py
+++ b/src/yunohost/service.py
@@ -227,6 +227,15 @@ def service_status(names=[]):
 
         status = _get_service_information_from_systemd(name)
 
+        translation_key = "service_description_%s" % name
+        description = m18n.n(translation_key)
+
+        # that mean that we don't have a translation for this string
+        # that's the only way to test for that for now
+        # if we don't have it, uses the one provided by systemd
+        if description == translation_key:
+            description = str(status.get("Description", ""))
+
         result[name] = {
             'status': str(status.get("SubState", "unknown")),
             'loaded': "enabled" if str(status.get("LoadState", "unknown")) == "loaded" else str(status.get("LoadState", "unknown")),
@@ -235,7 +244,7 @@ def service_status(names=[]):
                 "timestamp": str(status.get("ActiveEnterTimestamp", "unknown")),
                 "human": datetime.fromtimestamp(status.get("ActiveEnterTimestamp") / 1000000).strftime("%F %X"),
             },
-            'description': str(status.get("Description", "")),
+            'description': description,
             'service_file_path': str(status.get("FragmentPath", "unknown")),
         }