 As his name suggests, his family originated from Varna; his father's family name was Boubous.He completed his elementary studies in the Zariphios Greek high school in Plovdiv and then moved to Athens in 1902 to study literature at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.While there, he became involved in the Greek language dispute, taking the side of the demoticists over the supporters of the "katharevousa".